There have been plenty of exhibits celebrating the life of King Tut, but the newest one honors the ancient pharaoh in a manner never done before.
“Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience” doesn’t present ancient artifacts for visitors to examine and explore. Instead, it’s a completely visual experience in the manner of recent immersive experiences honoring artists like Vincent van Gogh.
Developed in partnership with the National Geographic Society, the exhibit had its debut in Boston over the summer and is now ready to begin traveling the country.
“For 100 years, the world has been fascinated by the story of the Boy King,” Dr. Louis Bertini, executive director of the American Research Center (ARCE) in Egypt, said in a release. “The contents of his tomb, which come to life in this experience, have advanced the fields of archeology and Egyptology unlike any other discovery.”
ARCE, which has partnered with National Geographic for the exhibit, has the mission to study and safeguard Egypt’s cultural heritage.
Developers of the project are excited to present the story in such a new manner.
“It was such an honor to tour King Tut’s treasures around the world, but those objects have returned to Egypt forever,” said Mark Lach, creative producer of the exhibit. “Beyond King Tut brings together some of that same team, along with the all-stars of immersive art, to present one of the world’s most fascinating [stories] in a whole new way with no boundaries.”
Instead of artifacts, the exhibit uses high-resolution digital projects of King Tut’s world all along high walls and floors as guests visit nine different rooms that follow his birth, life, and death.
“I always think it’s interesting, particularly for kids, to show them that people 3,000 years ago were maybe not all that different than they are,” Kathryn Keane, vice president of public experiences for the National Geographic Society, told the Associated Press.
The exhibit has opened in New York and Washington, and tickets are on sale for its arrival in Los Angeles and Vancouver, British Columbia. Guests can also register for pre-sale tickets in Atlanta, Houston, San Diego, and San Francisco.
The exhibit may also travel to additional cities in the coming months. Dates and tickets can be found at beyondkingtut.com.
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